Coupling.



E. E. GOMAN.

COUPLING.

AIPPLIOATION FILED 1120.1, 1909 999,963. Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

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COUPLING.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR E. COMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at 1V aldron, in the county of Hillsdale and State of Michigan,have invented a new and useful Coupling, of which the fOllOWiIlg is aspecification.

This invention has relation to couplings especially adapted to be usedfor connecting a thresher or like machine with a traction engine and itconsists in the novel construction and arrangement of its parts ashereinafter shown and described.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, effective anddurable coupling to be used as indicated which consists of a head blockwith means for pivot-ally mounting the same upon the frame of the engineand a draw-bar adapted to fit in said block and restrained againstlateral swing with relation to the block but free to move to a limitedextent vertically within the block. By such arrangement when the engineand trailing machine are making a turn the lateral pivotal movementoccurs at the pivotal connection between the block and the engine frameand not between the members of the coupling. If however, the engine andtrailing machine should pass over uneven places in the road the saidengine and trailing machine may have relative vertical movement byreason of the fact that the draw-bar is permitted to have limitedvertical movement in the head block of the coupling.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure l is a vertical longitudinalsectional view of the coupling. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view ofthe same on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal longitudinalsect-ion of the same.

The coupling consists of ahead block 1 having a vertically disposed pinperforation 2 adapted to receive a pin mounted upon the frame of anengine and thus forming means whereby the said head block is pivotallyconnected with the engine frame. At the end of the block 1 opposite theend thereof containing the perforation 2 is formed a longitudinallydisposed throat 3 having a bell shaped mouth t. The head block 1 isprovided with a top slot 5 and a bottom slot 6 both of which communicateat their inner ends with the throat 3. A bolt 7 passes transverselythrough the lower forward portion of the head block 1 and also throughthe forward end of the slot 6 and Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 1, 1909.

Patented Aug. 8, 1911. Serial No. 530,786.

forms an abutment for a locking pin as will be hereinafter explained.The head block 1 is provided in its top with slots 8 which receive theend of an arched member 9, the intermediate portion of which bridges theslot 5 at a point intermediate the ends there of. A bolt 10 passestransversely through the top of the head block 1, also through the slot5 and through the end of the arched member 9 and serves as means forsecuring the said arch member in the slot 8.

A pin 11 is provided with an elongated slot 12 which receives the bolt10. The pin is of sufficient length so that when in a vert-ical positionit projects through the slots 5 and 6 and bears at its lower forwardedge against the bolt 7 in the slot 6. The lower rear end of the pin 11is rounded or chamfered as at 13. A chain or other flexible member letis. connected at one end with the upper end of the pin 11 and passesthrough a perforation 15 provided in the top of the arch member 9.

A draw-bar 16 is provided with an elongated slot 17 and the extremity ofthat end which is adapted to enter the draw-head 1 is rounded as at 18.The slot 17 is of sulficient breadth to snugly receive the pin 11 andthe said draw-bar 16 is of such breadth in a horizontal direction as tofit snugly against or within the side walls of the throat 3 of the headblock 1. The vertical thickness of the draw-bar 16 is such that the saiddraw-bar when inserted in the throat 3 of the head-block 1 may movevertically to a limited extent. The draw-bar 16 is adapted to beattached to the tongue or other part of the trailing machine.

The operation of the coupling is as follows: The locking pin 11 normallyhangs in a vertical position in the slots 5 and 6 and as the tractionengine to which the head. block 1 is attached is backed toward thethresher or other machine carrying the d awbar 16 the said draw-bar isdirected into the mouth 4 of the throat 3 of the headblock 1. WVhen therounded end 18 of the draw-bar 16 comes in contact with the lowerportion of the locking pin 11 the said pin is swung away from thedraw-bar 16 upon the bolt 10 as a pivot. When the end of the slot 17passes beyond the lower end of the pin 11 the said pin falls by gravitythrough the slot 17 and assumes a vertical position in the slots- 5 and6 with its lower forward edge against the bolt 7. Thus the parts arecoupled together and when the engine to which the draw-head is attachedis moved in a forward direction the draw-bar 16 will drag the trailingmachine behind. To uncouple the members the chain 14 is pulled wherebythe locking pin 11 is lifted out of the slot 17 and the engine continuesa forward movement the draw-bar 16 slips out of the throat of thehead-block 1. By this arrangement it will be seen that a sim ple andeffective coupling is provided; that the parts act automatically duringthe coupling operation and that the 'members may be easily and quicklyuncoupled. At the same time it will be seen that the draw-bar 1.0 isrestrained against lateral swing with relation to the head. block 1 butthat means is provided for pivotally mounting the head block.Consequently when the machines to which the coupling members areattached are turning the pivotal movement at the coupling occurs at thepivotal point of the head. block and not between the head block and thedraw-bar. It will also be seen that the saiddraw-bar may have limitedvertical movement with relation to the head block and this will permitthe machine to pass over uneven places in a road-way without strainingthe component parts of the coupling.

Inasmuch as the present coupling is especially adapted to be used asmeans for connecting a thresher or other trailing machine to a tractionengine the coupling is designed with a view of being especially adaptedfor this purpose. In the first place it is desirable in a coupling whenso used that the parts should be light and occupy minimum space, t thesame time the struc ture must be strong and able to withstand thestrains and sudden jars to which it is subjected when in use. Such acoupling is subjected to conditions at times which couplings used uponrailway cars or tram cars are not subjected to. The traction engine andits trailer passes over a rough road the trailer sometimes moves in aforward direction at a greater rate of speed than the engine and atother times the engine moves in a forward direction at a greater rate ofspeed than the trailer. This is due to the inequalities usually found inthe road bed, consequently when the draw-bar 1(5 suddenly drawn in aforward direction against the rear edge of the locking pin 11, there isunusual. sudden impact between the forward edge of the said pin and thebolt 7 in the lower slot of the head block. The head block is a castingas has hereinbefore been explained for the reason that it is desirableto have this structure light while the bolt 7 is of wrought metal as isalso the coupling pin and the draw'bar. Therefore these parts are betterable to stand the impact of sudden jars and they are the parts which ina great measure sustain these jars and relieve the cast parts of thecoupling from unnecessary or sudden shock. It is of course understoodthat where coupling devices are designed to be used upon railroad carsand tram cars or other vehicles which travel upon a comparatively levelor regularly inclined track the sudden jarring of the parts in theinstance above mentioned is eliminated and the major portions of thecoupling may be cast. Again on vehicles that travel upon a track thequestion of weight is not a material element to be considered and theparts are usually of such transverse thickness as to withstand thestrains and jars to which they may be subjected. It will therefore beseen that in View of the fact that applicants coupling is for specialapplications that the special construction of the same constitutes theessential features of his invention.

Having described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is A coupling comprising a head block having alongitudinally disposed throat provided with plain vertical side walls,said block having in its top and bottom elongated slots whichcommunicate with the threat, a bolt located in the head block and lyingtransversely across the slot in the top thereof, a second bolt locatedin the head block and lying transversely across the outer end portion ofthe slot in the bottom thereof, a locking pin having an elongated slotwhich receives the bolt in the upper slot of the head block, said pinwhen hanging pendant from said bolt having its lower end portion locatedin the lower slot of the head block, and its forward edge in engage mentwith the bolt in the lower slot, means for raising said pin, and adraw-bar adapted to fit snugly between the vertical side walls of thethreat in the head block and having an elongated slot adapted to receivethe intermediate portion of the locking pin, the lower portion of saidpin engaging the said lower bolt, whereby the head block and draw-barare held in longitudinal alinement but the draw-bar is free to movethrough out the entire vertical depth of the throat in the head block.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto atlixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDGAR E. COMAN.

Witnesses V. B. SHUMWAY, JAMES D. ANDERSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Gommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

